The Minnesota Twins' reign atop the AL Central will end this season. There are too many unknowns—the bullpen, Francisco Liriano trade rumors and Justin Morneau's health—in Minnesota's camp. With a powerful offense and the quicker-than-expected return of right-hander Jake Peavy, the Chicago White Sox are the favorites to win the division. The Detroit Tigers also will be factors after a busy offseason of improvements.

There is no sure thing, however, and the race should be close all season because none of the AL Central's top three teams is far and away superior to the others.

WHITE SOX

Why they're trending upward: The South Siders were winners this winter, signing DH Adam Dunn and bringing back team leader and right-handed power presence Paul Konerko. Dunn is a huge addition considering White Sox designated hitters ranked ninth in the AL with a .396 slugging percentage and eighth with a .728 OPS last season. Dunn should boost those numbers significantly after posting a .536 slugging percentage and an .892 OPS with the Washington Nationals in 2010.

"Last year the talk was that there was no big left-handed bat, there was no real DH. This year there isn't anything you can point a finger at and say we're really deficient in that area," Konerko says.

X-factor: Peavy isn't being rushed, but he is well ahead of schedule in his return from July shoulder surgery. Still, there is some reason for concern because Peavy has yet to be healthy since his trade to Chicago in July of 2009.

Why they're trending upward: Signing catcher/DH Victor Martinez, who hit .302 with 20 homers and 79 RBIs for the Boston Red Sox last season, was huge, especially given the demand for him on the free-agent market. Martinez should provide some stability in the middle of the order and offer the lineup protection that first baseman Miguel Cabrera lacked last season (AL-high 32 intentional walks). Detroit also signed Joaquin Benoit to strengthen its bullpen and Brad Penny to fortify its rotation.

X-factor: Cabrera's DUI arrest clouded his immediate future and it is unknown how much he can be counted on this season. Another incident could result in an extended absence, robbing the offense of the runner-up in the AL MVP voting last season.

X-factor: Morneau still hasn't been cleared to play in spring training games after suffering a season-ending concussion last July. Even after the first baseman returns, there will be questions about the effect of the long layoff and worries about further concussions.